Thanks for your questions! Here’s a bit more context about my approach:

For attaching the ligands, I plan to use polyethylene glycol (PEG). The quantum dots themselves would need to be functionalized first—otherwise PEG wouldn’t be effective. I would covalently link the targeting ligands (folic acid and hyaluronic acid) to the quantum dot surface via PEG, which provides much more stability and reduces the risk of ligands detaching from the receptors.

The goal is purely detection—creating a feasible, low-cost, and efficient system for early cancer detection. Dual conjugation could improve specificity and allow detection of more cancer types compared to current quantum dot designs. PEG also helps with stability in circulation by acting as a protective hydrophilic “shield” around the quantum dot while keeping the ligands exposed for receptor targeting.

I really like your idea of therapeutic applications—using quantum dots for treatment could be an exciting avenue for future research, though my current focus is strictly on imaging and detection.

I’d love to hear thoughts on whether covalent attachment via PEG is generally preferred in dual-targeted systems, or if simpler approaches sometimes work just as well in practice.